Brass musical instrument.



G. Rossi, BRASS MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.26, 1910.

1, 1 O0, 1 99, Patented June 16,1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WlT/VE88E8: INV NTOR 26W l t 2% 2 BY f Z 73; 20 rM Al ATTORNEYS G. ROSSI.

BRASS MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.2G, 1910.

1,100,199. Patented June 16, 1914.

2 SHEETS SHEET 2.

1 A; "2;? z i 46 P 11 tinrrnn snares oration GIosUE nossr, on NEW Yon-n, N. in

BRASS MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, Grosuii Rossr, a subject of the King of Italy, residing in the borough of Manhattan, city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Brass Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

Heretofore, to obtain the lowering of a half tone on a mouth-piece musical instrument there was employed, especially for trumpets and French horns for orchestra use, a separate portion or tube, which was designed to be attached to themain tube or removed therefrom, to vary the tone of the instrument.

With my invention to obtain the lowering of a half tone I provide means for shifting one of the finger pieces to keep open one of the valves and thereby lengthen the main tube sufliciently to produce the lower tone desired. To lower a whole tone I provide an additional length of tube through which the air. may be controlled by a suitable valve as desired. I therefore provide a musical instrument of the horn type whose normal tone may be varied by three distinct steps first, a half tone; second, a whole tone, and third a tone and a half. These three variations together with the normal tone of the horn make the one instrument fitted with my invention the equivalent of four ordinary horns having the differences in tones which may be produced by my invention.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a French horn provided with my invention; Fig. 2 a side elevation of the opposite side thereof from that shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 a front elevation enlarged of the finger pieces and connecting parts which I have applied to an instrument of this type; Fig. 4 a detail vertical sectional view on the line IV-IV of Figs. 1, 2 and 3; Fig. 5 a vertical sectional view on the line V-V of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 a detail view of the whole tone valve device; Fig. 7 a side plan view thereof; Fig. 8 a detail side elevation of the valve; and Fig. 9 a detail transverse sectional plan view of the valve.

As shown in the drawings, the instrument in the nature of a French hern has the main tube 1 with a mouth piece 2 at one end, and the usual bell at the otherextremity. The main tube is coil ed in any desired way,

and within the coils are located the three Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 26, 1910.

Patented June in, rare. Serial No. 551,65'?.

loops, 4, 5 and 6 of different lengths to produce the desired notes when connected with the main tube by the valves. These loops are independently connected to the main tube by rotary valves respectively numbered 4 5 and 6. In their normal positions, the valves cut off communication between the loops and the main tube, but when shifted each valve will open a connection between the main tube and the loop so that the air current will be deflected through the loop instead of passing beyond it. The shortest loop 5 is of sufficient length to lower the pitch one-half tone. Each of these a said valves is mounted on a stem 7 that carries a crank arm 8 to the end of whichis pivoted a link 9. The other ends of these links are connected to the inner ends respectively of three keylevers a- 5 and 6*. These levers are all mounted to rock on a shaft 33 that is carried by supports 11 proj ecting from a plate 12 fast to the maintube of the instrument.

Each of these levers is provided with an arm 13, 13 and 13 which arms respectively carry finger pieces 1, 5 and 6 By depressing these finger pieces successively or in conjunction all of the different notes of the scale can be produced in the usual manner common to such instruments. Each finger piece when depressed will serve to lengthen the main tube by the length of the respective loop that is put into communication therewith.

The lever 4 is provided with a supplemental finger piece 4, and the lever 6 is provided with a supplemental finger piece 6 which two supplemental finger pieces are located a short distance above the finger pieces 4 and 6 respectively, the said supplemental finger pieces being offset a sufficient distance to permit the fingers to be inserted between the finger pieces and operate the lower finger pieces without interfering with the upper ones. The levers 4 5 and 6" are each provided with an adjustable stop 1 1', I l and 14:", respectively, and three fiat springs 15, 15, and 15", are provided, carried by the plate 12, that normally press against said adjustable stops 14c, 14 and 14 respectively, and serve to return the respective levers and their connected valves to normal position when the fingerpieces are released.

A rocking bell-crank lever 16' is pivoted on the shaft 33 adjacent the lever P and this lever is provided with a finger piece 17, fastened thereon and positioned above the finger piece 5. By this arrangement the operator can manipulate either the finger piece 17. or the finger piece 5 with one finger and without necessitating any appreciable shift or change of position of the hand. Said lever 16 has a part 16 extending inwardly and provided near its free end with a lug or projection 16*, saidlug or projection 16 extending beneath the inner end of the lever 4 and when depressed will engage the lever 4* and shift the same to open the valve 4 The projection or lug 16 may be wrapped or provided with cushioning means as desired. It will thus be seen that the valve P can be opened from either of three finger pieces v ll, 4 or 17, While the intermediate valve 5 will be normally operated only by the finger piece 5 The lever 5 carries a laterally projecting lug 18 on which bears a supplemental spring 19, that tends to shift the lever and force the valve 5 to open position but the spring 15* is much stronger in its action than the spring 19 and, therefore, overcomes the effect of the spring 19 which is rendered inoperative until the spring 15f is shifted out of operative position. On one of the supports 11 is pivoted a lever 20 having one end engaging the spring 15 and adapted to move it away fro-m the stop 14 on the lever 5", whereby spring 15 is rendered inoperative, and the said spring 19 will thereupon shift the valve 5, and yieldably retain it in the open position. The other end of lever 20 when moved to shift the spring 15 is engaged by spring latch 21 that will retain it to hold the spring 15* out of position to return the key lever 5 to closed position, and by this means spring 15 will be held inoperative permitting spring 19 to shirt valve 5 to open position and retain it in such position, thereby causing the shortest loop 5 to be in communication with the main tube of the instrument. This tube 5 is of such length that the pitch of the instrument is thus lowered one-half tone. A finger piece 22 is pivoted on the instrument to engage and depress the lever 20.

On one of the supports 11 is pivoted a rocking bar 24 one end of which is arranged to engage the arm of finger piece 5 and raise the same when its other end is depressed upon being engaged-by a supplemental arm 25 carried by the lever'lfi. From this, it will be understood that when the spring 15 has been shifted from its normal position by lever 20 and the supplemental spring 19 has shifted the lever 5 to open the valve 5, the depression of the finger piece 17, by reason of arm 25 and rocking lever 24, will cause the latter to shift the valve 5' to its former or normal closed position. This depression of finger piece 17, as described,

will also open the valve 4. That is, depression of finger piece 17 will open valve 4:, and at the same time will close valve 5. In this position of the parts, the finger piece 5 Will be held depressed and practically inoperative. Of course, the valve 1 can be separately operated by either the finger piece i or the finger piece 4; but when the parts are in such position, since the finger piece 17 must be operated, it is much more convenient to operate the valve 4 by the finger piece r, and also the valve 6 from the finger piece 6, for the reason that these two finger pieces on each side of the finger piece 17 lie in the same plane. Consequently, it will be seen that if we take a French horn in the key of F the three lower keys of the instrument i 5 and (3, will give the scale in F. But when the lever 20 is shifted to reverse the action of the valve 5", then by the operation of the three upper keys or finger pieces t 17 and 6, the instrument will be lowered one-half tone, producing the scale in E.

Connected to the main tube of the instrument on the opposite side thereof from the key mechanism is a long supplemental tubular loop 27, and at the connection of said loop to the main tube is arranged a rotary valve 28 which is similar in construction to the valves 4, 5 and 6, and is adapted to place said loop in communication with the main tube or cut it off from sucl communication. This valve is provided with a cross head 29 which is adapted to be engaged by a spring 30 to hold said cross head in its aid justed positions. The valve casing is provided with two stops 31 against which the cross head is adapted to contact in its open and closed position, the spring holding it against accidental displacement. The loop 27 is of such length that when added to the length of the main tube, it serves to lower the pitch or tone of the horn a Whole tone. By turning the valve so as to connect the loop 27, to the main tube of the instrument and then using the lower finger pieces, give the scale in E-fiat. If now the valve 5 should be reversed and placed in its open position by means of the lever 20, and the upper finger pieces used that is to say the finger pieces 4, 17 and 6 the tone is lowered another half tone resulting in the scale in D. It will therefore be seen that bv the use of my invention a single horn may be so adjusted as to have four different normal tones or scales three of which are lower tone than the original normal tone of the instrument.

From the foregoing it is manifest that one instrument provided with my invention will take the place'of four instruments as they have been before heretofore constructed.

I claim- 1. In a horn, the combination of a main tube, a series of loops, a set of normally closed valves controlling access from the main tube to the loops, at set. of levers provided with means to open said valves respectively, means for yieldingly retaining a certain one of said valves in the open position, and a lever connected with a second one of said valves to positively shift the second valve to open position and at the same time to close the said certain one of said valves when held open by said lever.

2. In a horn, the combination of a main tube, a series of loops, a set of norlnally closed valves controlling access from the main tube to the loops, a set of key levers provided with means to open said valves respectively, means for yieldingly retaining a certain one of said valves in the open position, and a lever connected with a second one of the said valves to shift the second valve to closed position and at the same time to close the said certain valve it opened by its key lever, said lever being located adjacent the normal key lever for the said certain valve to be controlled by the same finger of the operator.

3. In a horn, the combination of a main tube, a series of loops, a set of valves controlling access from the main tube to the loops, at set of key levers provided with means to open said valves respectively, each key lever provided with a finger piece, means for yieldingly retaining a certain one of said valves in the open position, and a lever provided with a finger piece and connected with a second one of the said valves to open the second valve and at the same time to close the said certain valve it opened by its key lever, said lever being located adjacent the normal key lever for the finger piece of said certain valve and adapted to be controlled by the same finger of the opera tor, said other key levers being provided each with a supplemental finger piece substantially in alinement with the finger piece of said latter key lever.

4. In a horn, the combination with the main tube, and a series of loops, of a valve for each loop to connect said loop with the main tube, means for holding each valve normally closed, a key lever for shifting each valve to the open position, means for yieldingly holding a certain one of said valves in the open position, and means arranged to shift said certain valve when in the open position to the closed position and at the same time shift'one of said other valves to the open position.

the open position when shifted, and means arranged to shift said certain valve when in the open position to the closed position and at the same time shift a second valve to the open position without affecting the operation of the said certain valve by its connected key lever.

6. In a horn, the combination with themain tube of a series of loops, valves for connecting each loop respectively with the main tube, a spring for normally retaining a certain one of said valves in the closed position, a weaker spring for yieldingly retaining the said certain valve in its open position, a shiftable member arranged to cause either of said springs to control the position of said certain valve to yieldingly hold it in the open or the closed position, and a member arranged to shift said certain valve when held in the open position by said weaker spring, to the closed position, and at the same time to shift one of said other valves to the open position.

7. In a horn, the combination with the main tube, and 'a series of loops, of valves for connecting each loop with the main tube, a spring for moving one of said valves to the open position, a spring stronger than said spring to normally retain the said valve in its closed position, a member arranged to normally prevent said stronger spring from acting whereby the weaker spring will control the position of the valve to yieldingly hold it in the open position, and a member arranged to hold said springcontrolling member in position for preventing said stronger spring from acting.

8. In a horn, the combination with the main tube, of a series of loops, a valve for connecting each loop with the main tube, a key lever for operating each valve, each key lever provided with a finger piece, a spring for normally retaining a certain one of said valves in the closed position, a spring tor yieldingly retaining the said certain valve in its open position, a shiftable device arranged to cause either of said springs to control the position oi said certain valve to yieldingly hold it in the closed or the open position, a member arranged to shift said valve when held in the open position by the said second spring to the closed position and at the same time to shift one of said other valves to the open position, a supplementary lever provided with a finger piece for said certain valve for operating it when in the normally closed position and arranged adjacent the other lever for this valve, each of said other valves having also a second finger piece arranged substantially in the plane of the finger piece on said supplemental lever.

9. A, musical instrument of the horn type provided with a series of loops of various lengths to produce various tones, a valve llli for each of said loops and controlling communication between them and the main tube, a series of finger pieces connected to said valves, means for holding said valves normally closed, means for reversing one of said valves to hold it normally open, supplemental means for operating said valve when it is reversed to close it, a supplemental loop connected to main tube, a valve controlling communication between said supplemental loop and the main tube, and means for holding said valve in its open or closed position.

10. A musical instrument of the horn type provided with a series of loops of different lengths, rotary valves controlling communication between said loops and the main tube, a series of key-levers connected to and adapted to operate said valves, springs for normally holding said valves closed one of said levers being provided with a supplemental spring tending to open said valve, a pivoted lever arranged to engage the closing spring of said key-lever and render said spring inoperative, means for locking said lever in position to hold said closing spring inoperative whereby the valve-opening spring will move said key-lever and open the connected valve, a rocking lever, and a rocking-bar in the path of said lever adapted to be engaged by said rocking lever presses and move said opened valve to its closed position.

11. A musical instrument of the horn type provided with a series of loops of different lengths, rotary valves controlling communication between said loops and the main tube, a series of key-levers connected to and adapted to operate said valves, springs for normally holding said valves closed, one of said levers being provided with a supplemental weaker spring tending to open said valves, a pivoted lever arranged to engage the closing spring of said key-lever and render said spring inoperative, means for locking said lever in position to hold said closing spring inoperative whereby the valve opening spring will move said keylever and open the connected valve, a rocking-lever, a key connected to said lever, a rocking-bar adapted to be operated by said rocking-lever to move said opened valve to its closed position, whereby said rockinglever will operate to open one valve and to close said opened valve.

This specification signed and witnessed this 21st day of March, A. D, 1910.

GIGSUE R0831.

Witnesses:

W. A. TAWNER, J12, ISABEL Framers. 

